Steering and braking mechanism for trenchers



June 9, 1953 a R. N. BENNETT 2,641,343

STEERING AND BRAKING MECHANISM FOR TRENCHERS Filed NOV. 2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIE -2- 66 INVENTOR. r 65 HUBERTNBBNNBTT 71M 27 MM ATTY:

June-9, 1953 R. N. BENNETT 2,641,343

STEERING AND BRAKING MECHANISM FOR TRENCHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 2, 1946 FUBERT N. BENNETT ATTYY June 9, 1953 R. N. BENNETT STEERING AND BRAKING MECHANISM FOR- TRENCHERS.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 2, 1946 JNVENTOR. HIJEEHTNBFNNE 'I'T ATTY.

June 9, 1953 R. N. BENNETT 2,641,343

STEERING AND BRAKING MECHANISM FOR TRENCHERS Filed Nov. 2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 TIE-7- IN VEN TOR. 13052127" N. Bmvz 21:1"

GZMM MM.

Patented June 9, 1953 STEERING AND BRAKING MECHANISM FOR TRENCHERS Robert N. Bennett, McComb, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Gar Wood Industries, Inc., a corporation of Michigan Application November 2, 1946, Serial No. 707,399

'7 Claims. 1'

This invention relates to driving and steering mechanisms for controlling the movements of a tractor.

More particularly, the invention resides in the provision of mechanisms for driving and steering a vehicle of the type described, utilizing inconnection with each separately mounted track, driving wheel, or other traction means a clutch and brake system interposed between the power source and the driving sprocket with suitable controls whereby the clutch and brake system may be used to effect either a direct driving connection with the traction means or else selectively to drive only one while braking the other to effect desired tractor turning movements.

An object of the invention is to produce a new and improved brake and steering clutch system in a final drive transmission interposed between the power source and the drive sprockets adapted progressively first partially to disengage the steering clutch and apply the brakes and then fully to disengage the steering clutch and apply the brakes, enabling more efiective and eflicient operation with less strain and wear on cooperating parts, thereby to enable simplification and more economical production of the desired units.

Another object is to produce a tractor braking and steering device having the parts disposed in an easily accessible manner enabling installation, repair, or replacement readily to be effected, the device being simple and compact in construction and effieient in operation.

A further object is to provide for tractors of the type described, a steering mechanism in which the movement of a driven part assists in the disengagement of the same driven part from selected driving parts and the application of frictional resistance to the further turning movement of the disengaged driving part using, for example, cooperable cam actuating means for spreading the engaging steering clutch plates and associated friction actuated means for applying the brakes.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is, a diagrammatic side elevational View of a tractor of the track laying type used in connection with a digging Wheel of a trenching machine;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear portion of the tractor, certain parts of the order to show the crawler drive mechani m;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional elevational view taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 1, showing the driving transmission mechanism;

Figure 4 is a detail side elevational view of the clutch and brake assembly and their actuating means;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 4, showing the release structure;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a top View of the elements shown in Figure 4, with parts omitted and broken away for purposes of illustration.

Referring now to Figurel of the drawings, there is illustrated a tractor 10 having a main frame 8 l which supports a superstructure I 2 adapted to position a pair of upright rails l3 on the rear of the tractor for adjustably mounting a frame M rotatably supporting a digging wheel [5. A power source H5 in the form of a motor or internal combustion engine mounted on the forward portion of the main frame is adapted through a transmission ll selectively to impart motive forces to the driving wheels IS in the form of sprockets rotatably mounted on the rearward portions of the chamber frame 22. The crawler frame is secured as by beams 20 to the main frame to form a part of the tractor chassis. It is understood that the sprockets may also be adapted to actuate separately mounted traction wheels or' the like.

For driving the tracks H3 in one direction or the other, a main drive shaft 23 is connected through a universal joint 24 to the end of a traction output shaft 25 which extends outwardly from'the transmission H. The other end of the drive shaft 23 extends into a traction transmission housing 26 which, through gears (not shown) drives a rotatable stub'shaft 21' having on its end portion a bevel pinion 28 disposed within'a drive transmission housing 29.

A laterally disposed rotatable shaft 30 (Figure 3) supported by end bearings 3| which are carried by housing walls 32, has an annular flange 33 to which is secured by bolts 34, a bevel gear 35. The bevel gear 35 meshes with the pinion 23 thereby to drive the shaft, 30 from the main shaft 23. The teeth of a spur gear 36 keyed to the shaft 30 meshes with another spur gear 31 .which in turn is keyed to an intermediate driven shaft 38.

Mounted on opposite end portions of the shaft 38 are reaction brake assemblies 39 and 40 respectively, hereinafter referred to asthe steering clutches, each having a series of clutch plates 4| (Figurefi) keyed to the shaft 38 for rotational movement therewith, while the interleaved clutch Driving sprockets 49 and are integralwith.

the inner portions of the respective sleeves and are disposed within the heusing 2 9 Chains 5 I (Figure 3) connect the sprockets .49 and 1553 to the sprockets 52 and 53 respectively, the latter sprockets being fixed to separate but aligned drive shafts 54 and adjacently mounted at their inner ends by separate bearings 56 and 51in an intermediate stanchion 53.

Another bearing 59 is provided in-eachside wall 3'2 for the outer portions .of each "drive shaft 5 1 and 55 respectively.- Each drive shaft 5.4 and 55 extends beyond the housing for operative engagemenuby interconnecting hub 69 and sleeve 61 to concentric extension shafts Stand 63. The outer ends of the shafts 62 and fifi are journaled in a bearing 64 supported by the crawler frame 22 and have fixed thereto sprockets E5 and 6t respectively which are connected by chains 6i to sprockets 6.8 andfit respectively, the latter being rotatablymountedon the crawler frame 22 and ,operatively connected respectively to adjacent track laying wheels I9 for actuating the same.

It is manifest from the above description that, when desired, itis possible selectively to disengage the clutch plates of one of the steering clutches, thereby only to transmit motive forces through the other clutch to the'respective drive sprocket. At the same time there is actuated a braking means, later to be described, operatively associated with the disconnected steering clutch to prevent rotational movement of the associated sprocket, thus to cause turning movement of the tractor.

For purposes ofv disengaging. one or the other of the steering clutches and applying the asso ciated brake, there is provided in the region of the operators seat :16 an upright shift lever II which is pivotally mounted near-its lower end on a pin 72 (see Figure 4). Pivotally interconnecting the lower depending end portion of the shift lever H with the free end of a crank arm I3, which is operatively secured at its other end to a cross shaft 14, is a tie rod 15. The cross shaft M which is supported by brackets 16, extends across the frame II and has fixed at one posite ends crankarms I1 and 18'('Figure 3) which extend in opposite directions.

Since the mechanisms for effecting the desired operations in response to rocking movement of the crank arms are substantially identical, detail description will be made of one only. Such mechanism, as will hereinafter appear, are operated alternately. and not conjointly depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft I4.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 7, mounted on the end of shaft 38 outwardly of the steering clutch is a booster device I9 adapted progressively in response to shift lever 'II operation to eifect partial disengagement of the clutch plates 4I and 42 as well as application of the braking device, and than fully to separate the clutch plates and apply the braking device. The booster device comprises a cylindrical drum adapted either loosely or tightly to be engaged by a brake band 82 which has the usual brake lining 8|. Band adjustment is effected by actuation of a pair of rocker arms 83 and 84, each having at its outer .endan adjustable pin 85 which is fixed by welding 850. to an end .of the metal strip 82.

:A pair of stub shafts 86 and 81 are keyed in socket portions 88 integral with and projecting outwardly from a carrier ring 89, and provide apivotal mounting for intermediate portions of the -re cker arms respectively. Links 52 and 92a are-pivoted to theopposite end portions of the Locker arms respectively and are pivotally interconnectedat their free ends with one end of a link 93, thereby forming a toggle. Adjustmer t-in toggle position may be effected by means of a set screw 9| in operative engagement with a 38111.91! which. forms a part of each rocker arm a d rests .onth surface ofv the booster drum. The other end of the link 93 is pivotallyc011- nected to an car .94 caches: the sleeve se ns .95, the sleeve sections as being-respectivel y mounted for rotational movement on the stub shafts. The sleeve section. 95 having the car 54 forms. one end of a .U-shaped lever 96 operatively connected by a slip joint to the free end of the crank arm 1?. Inthe assembled relation, nuts jel threadably engage the outer end of each stub shaft 86 and Bland secure the rocker arms andsleeve sections 95 thereon.

The slip joint is formed-by a tie rod 9'! having one end slidably disposedin asleeve member 98 which is pivoted to the free end of the. crank arm I1 in a manner positively to transmit rearward arm movement to a threadably engaged bent link '99, the latter being pivotally secured to the free end of the U-shaped lever 55.. The tie rod 91 is constantly urged towardits limit of movement by a coil spring we encircling the tie-rod between the sleeve member 93 and the link 99,

The booster drum 8!) isformed integrally with a hub member -;Ii!2 Fig-ure v6) that slidably ,fits over an end portion of the shaft 38 and is positioned-thereon by roller bearing unit IE3 seated in an annular groove H14 in the hub member, an end cap I05 secured b screws I05 to the end of the shaft 3,8 engages the opposite side of the roller bearing unit. The carrier ring 89 is mounted on the hub-member I02 by a suitable bear-ins 07- A xia'lly slidable on an annular series of rods I08; which are screw-.threadedly connected to the outer clutch plate Ma, is an annular disc plate 159 having a hub 169a which is movably interposed between the hub member 902 and a pair of bosse H8 integral therewith. The hub Nita is grooved in a manner to form a pair of outwardly inclined cam surfaces I i I diverging from a relatively straight central section I 52, the cam sur faces terminating as abutment walls H3 which extends outwardly to the end of the hub portion. Operable within the grooved portion is a pin I M on which is rotatably mounted in a roller I Ma, the pin being mounted in a suitable socket in the hub member I02 and thebosses i I 0. It will be apparout that the booster drum it is rotated by the cam plate I 09 through the frictional engagement between cam and the cam roller.

A coil spring i I5 has one end seated in a flanged cup H6 disposed in registered openings II'I shthe clut h. plates! I. in -an area .below the plates 42, which are keyed for relative rotational movement to the outer drum 43. The other end of'the spring bears against the disc plate I09 and constantly urges the clutch plate 42b and disc I09 toward the left of Figure 6, thus normally to dispose the roller H401. in the central area of the cam groove and urges the clutch plates to clutching position. The disc plateengages the head IIB of a rod H9 which slidably extends through an aperture in the disc plate, the end of the rod being secured to the innermost clutch plate 42b so that in the normal position, the clutch plates are urged to their gripping or clutching position. An annular ring I 20 secured by set screws to the shaft 38 militates against relative axial shifting movement of the plates 42 when in the assembled position. It is expedient for balance to provide more than one spring I I5 and rod II9 assembly and for purposes of construction, it is convenient to dispose the rod concentrically of the coil spring and slidably to extend it through an aperture in the base of the flanged cup I I6.

In this manner, when a braking force is applied to the booster drum 80, the roller 40!. rolls up one or the other of the cam surfaces I I I, thereby displacing the disc plate I09 axially inwardly. As a result, inward axial movement of the disc plate I09 compresses the coil springs II5 causing release of the clutch plates from each other.

Although the coil spring H5 is further tensioned, inner shifting movement of the outer 'clutch plate M11 is prevented by a suitable stop on the shaft 30, and accordingly the inward movement of the plate I09 eliminates the transmission of the spring force from the plate I09 to the head I08 and to the clutch plate 42b.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the just mentioned suitable stop comprise an outwardly facing shoulder I20a on the shaft 38 against which the ring I20 abuts, the ring I20 being welded to the outer clutch plate 4Ia.

Depending from the carrier ring 89 is an integral lever arm I 2| to the lower end of which is pivoted a tie rod I22. The other end of the tie rod I22 is pivoted to the end of a lever arm I23 mounted on a bearing I24 for rocking movement in a horizontal plane.

The lever arm I23 is urged to its normal posi tion by a coil spring I25 (Figure 5), which is disposed between a pair of discs I26 and I21, the discs being slidable longitudinally in a cylindrical housing I 28. The housing I28 has end wall I29 and the other end is closed by a plug I30, which is secured by set screws in the housing, the housing being anchored to the tractor frame by a bracket I3I. A rod I32 pivotally engages an intermediate portion of the lever arm I23 and has an extended screw-threaded end portion, Which projects longitudinally through the housing. A sleeve I34 on the rod I32 is slidable through an opening in the end Wall I29 and abuts at one end against th disc I26, the opposite end engaging a nut I33 for holding the sleeve in adjusted position. Similarly another sleeve I35 slidable through an aperture in the plug I 30 bears against the disc I21 and is adjustably positioned by a nut I33 on the rod I32.

Referring now to Figures 6 and '7, the steering brake is actuated in response to rocking movement of the lever arm I23 in one direction or the other. For this purpose there is disposed on the outer surface of the brake drum 43, to which the clutch plates 42 are keyed, a pair of substantially semi-circular brake bands I36 having a brake lining I38. Tothe upper edge portions of the brake bands I36 are welded box-like member's I40 and MI respectively (Figure 4), these members having substantially aligned apertures adapted slidably to receive a bolt I42 having a nut I44, a coil spring I43 on the bolt urging the members apart. To the lower ends of the brake bands I 36 are welded pairs of horizontally spaced plates formed with parallelly arranged bars I45 and I46, I41 and I48 respectively, all terminally positioned adjacent each other by means of a pin I49 securely positioned by a bracket I50 to the tractor frame in radial alignment with the center of the brake drum.

Pins I5I and I52 extend laterally from spaced portions of an arm I53, which is disposed between and in parallel relation to the bars I45, I46, I41 and I48 and is pivoted at one end to an intermediate portion of the lever arm I23. Slots in the bars I45, I46, I41 and I48 respectively are arranged in a manner to cooperate with the pins I5I and I52 to effect the desired movement of the brake bands I36 in response to the rocking movement of the lever arm I23. For example, the ends of slots I55-and I55a (Figure '7) formed in the bars I45 and I46 respectively are engaged upon movement of the pin I5I to effect concomitant shifting movement of these bars in one direction, but the slots enable the pin to be moved independently in the opposite direction. The ends of other slots I56 and I56a in the same bars are engaged by the mounting pin I49 and permit the bars to be shifted in one direction but militate against shifting movement in the opposite direction. Similarly, slots I51 and I58 in each bar I41 and I48 (Figure 7) are arranged in cooperation with thepin I52 to effect shifting movement in one direction but to militate against shifting movement of the bars inthe opposite direction. The arm I53 is provided, as illustrated in Figure '7, with a central opening I53a preventing interference with the shaft I49 during movement of the arm I53.

It is thus apparent from'the above description that, when the bars I45 and I46 are shifted together in one direction, responsive to upward swinging movement of the lever arm I23 (Figure 7) the associated brake band I36 is drawn more tightly about the drum 43. Thus there is effected a braking action upon the brake drum 43. Similarly, when the bars I41 and I48 are shifted downwardly (Figure '7), the respective band I36 is tightened upon the drum 43. When the forces urging the lever arm I23 in one direction or the other are relaxed, the centering spring I25 urges the return of the arm to its normal position, thereby enabling the release of the drum by the brake band aided by the action of the coil spring I43.

From the above description, it will be apparent that steering of the tractor is controlled by the single hand lever II, which when rocked in one direction either stops or retards the movement of one of the crawlers I8 without affecting the operation or movement of the other crawler. It will be seen in Figure 4 that rocking of the lever H in one direction or the other causes one brake band 82 to be tightened or applied to its booster drum 80, while the other brakeband 82 is unaffected or free of its booster drum. For example, movement of the lever II to the left of Fig ure 4, causes the brake band 82 controlled by the rock arm 11 to be applied, but due to the slip joint, which includes the rod 91 and sleeve or socket member 98, and due also to the positioning ofthearm 18: relative to. the. arm-W11, the

7-. brake band controlled by the rock arm Hi is unafiected.

Thus there is imparted a. drag on the, booster drum 8-0, which not only causes relative movement between the booster drum and the cam carrying disc H39, but also causes the carrier rin 89 and associated parts to rotate with the drum 8.0. At first, the centering spring I; associated with the lever arm I23 partially resists the rota= tional movement of the carrier ring 89 until such differential movement has occurred between the booster drum 80 and the cam disc as to cause the roller 1 Ma to roll u the cam I l I andenga the abutment I, I3.

- During movement of the roller lMc alon thecam track HI, it will be manifest that the, associated clutch is partially released, the release spring I25 is partially compressed, and the brake band 13-6 is partially applied. It is not until the roller lMc has traveled to the high end of the cam ii! that the clutch is fully released and the spring I25 is further compressed and suflicient movement of the lever I23; is efiected fully to apply the brake through the arm I53 and associated parts.

When the roller I Ma. has effected complete release of the clutch, relative rotation between the booster .drum 80 and shaft 33 is prevented and the resulting forces urging rotation of the carrier ring 89 withthe shaft 38 become suiiicient completely to overcome the static forces of the spring I25. Thus the lever arm 12! is rocked concomitantly to rock the lever arm I23 in a direction further to, compress the spring H25.

As described, when the lever arm [23 is rocked downwardly (Figure 7), the arm I 53 moves downwardly to effect shifting movement of the bars I45 and I46 therewith. This causes the respective brake bands F36 to tighten against the drum 63 to resist the turning of the drum, the clutch plates 42 having been already disengaged from the plates Ill associated with the shaft 38. Thus the clutch is released before the brakes are fully applied, thereby greatly to facilitate turning movement of the tractor.

It is understood that shifting movement of th control lever H in the forward direction (Figure 1) sheets movement of the rods 97 opposite to that above described, thus, in a similar manner, only to disengage the steering clutch .plates of the clutch ti] and subsequently to actuate the associated brake band, thereby to militate against rotational driving movement of the sprocket 50 while continuing the operation independently of the sprocket 49, In this. manner the crawler connected to the sprocket 65 is driven while the crawler associated with sprocket 65 is braked, causing the tractor to turn sharply to the left.

It will be readily understood from the above description that I have produced in a tractor of the type described a new and improved relation of parts employing a booster mechanism interposed between the tractor control lever and the tractor driving and braking means for efiecting the progression of operations; first partially disengaging the driving clutch; partially applying the main tractor brake; fully disengaging the driving clutch; and then fully applying the braking means to effect the desired steering movement. It is manifest that the booster mechanism is so constructed and arranged as to be actuated in the main by the main driving shaft on which it is mounted, only .such externally applied forces being necessary as to initiate the peration of the booster brakes. IQr

s: sponse to a minimum of effort on the party of the operator, complete disengagement of the driving clutch and full application of the braking means are eifected. Static, force means are also provided for the return of the parts to their normal position in response to their release by the operator,

It is to be understood that numerous changes in the details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected Without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a tractor having a pair of traction units and a steering clutch and brake for each unit, operating mechanism for each steering brake and clutch comprising a booster drum adjacent the clutch, a clutch release member rotatable with the clutch and, disposed adjacent said booster drum, each clutch release member being shiftable axially to release the adjacent clutch, means providing a connection between said clutch re-.- lease member and the adjacent booster drum for causing said drum to rotate therewith and including cam means so that a drag imposed upon said booster drum causes clutch releasing movement of said release member, a booster drum brake for imposing a drag on said booster drum, a rotatable carrier adjacent saidbooster drum, booster drum brake operating mechanism on said carrier whereby application of said booster drum brake imparts movement to said carrier, and link and lever mechanism operatively connecting said carrier to the respective steering brake thereby to apply same in response to such carrier move-.-

ment.

2. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, comprising a spring associated with said link and lever mechanism for resisting full application of the steering brake until the respective clutch is fully released.

3. In a tractor having .a pair of traction units, a spring loaded steering .clutch and a brake for each unit, operating mechanism for each clutch and brake set comprising a clutch release mem-. ber rotatable with and shi-ftable axially for re-. leasing the respective clutch, a hub on said clutch release member, a booster drum adjacent each clutch release member, a cam surface on said hub, a roller on said booster drum engaging said cam surface, said cam surface being retained in engagement with said roller by the clutch springs, a brake for each booster drum for causing diiiers ential rotation between the drum and release, member thereby to enable the cooperation of said cam surface and said roller to shift said release member for releasing the respective clutch, .a rotary carrier adjacent each booster drum, booster drum brake operating mechanism on said carrier, a lever arm on each carrier movable therewith, means providing an operative connection between each lever and the respective steering brake, and a spring device forming part of said connecting means and resisting operation thereof so that partial release of a clutch enables partial application of the respective steering brake and upon complete release of the clutch, full application of the steering brake is effected.

4. In a tractor steering mechanism, a driven shaft, a member mounted on said shaft in coaxial relation therewith for rotation relative thereto and adapted tobe connected to a tra c tion unit of said tractor to control the opera: tion thereof, a plurality of clutch elements COD! ci tric said shaft and including one ole,

merit connected to said member for rotation therewith and a pair of elements disposed at opposite sides of and movable relative to said one element between engaged and released positions and connected to said shaft for rotation therewith, a clutch release disc mounted on one of said pair of elements for rotation therewith and disposed coaxially of said shaft, means mounted on the other of said pair of elements and engageable with said disc for limiting axial movement of said disc in one direction, spring means acting between said disc and said one of said pair of elements to urge said disc in said one direction and exert a pressure yieldably holding said clutch elements in said engaged position, a booster drum mounted on said shaft for free rotation relative thereto, means preventing movement of said booster drum axially of said shaft, co-operating means on said booster drum and said disc effective throughout a predetermined range of angular movement of said drum relative to said disc to cam said disc in the opposite direction to increase the loading of said spring and relieve said pressure and effective at the end of said predetermined range of angular movement to provide a positive driving connection between said disc and said booster drum, a carrier disposed coaxially with said shaft, a booster brake adapted to engage said booster drum, a main brake adapted to engage said member, booster brake operating means mounted on said carrier whereby upon the applying of said booster brake by said operating means the latter transmits forces directly to the carrier urging the carrier to rotate about the axis of said shaft, and means connecting said carrier to said main brake and effective upon said rotation of said carrier to apply said main brake.

5. In a tractor steering mechanism, a driven shaft, a member mounted on said shaft in coaxial relation therewith for rotation relative thereto and adapted to be connected to a traction unit of said tractor to control the operation thereof, clutch means operable to connect said shaft and said member and including a clutch release disc movable axially of said shaft be-- tween a first position in which said clutch means is engaged and a second position in which said clutch means is released, a booster drum mounted on said shaft for free rotation relative thereto, means preventing movement of said booster drum axially of said shaft, co-operating means on said booster drum and said disc effective throughout a predetermined range of angular movement of said drum relative to said disc to cam said disc from said first position to said second position and efiective at the end of said predetermined range of angular movement to provide a positive driving connection between said disc and said booster drum, a carrier disposed coaxially with said shaft, a booster brake adapted to engage said booster drum, a main brake adapted to engage said member, booster brake operating means mounted on said carrier whereby upon the applying of said booster brake by said operating means the latter transmits forces directly to the carrier urging the carrier to rotate about the axis of said shaft, and means connecting said carrier to said main brake and effective upon said rotation of said carrier to apply said main brake.

6. In a tractor steering mechanism, a driven shaft, a member mounted on said. shaft in coaxial relation therewith for rotation relative thereto and adapted to be connected to a traction unit of said tractor to control the operation thereof, clutch means operable to connect said shaft and said member and including a clutch release disc movable axially of said shaft between a first position in which said clutch means is engaged and a second position in which said clutch means is released, a booster drum mounted on said shaft for free rotation relative thereto, means preventing movement of said booster drum axially of'said shaft, (so-operating means on said booster drum and said disc effective throughout a predetermined range of angular movement of said drum relative to said disc to cam said disc from said first position to said second position and efiective at the end of said predetermined range of angular movement to provide a positive driving connection between said disc and said booster drum, a carrier disposed coaxially with said shaft, a booster brake adapted to engage said booster drum, a main brake adapted to engage said member, booster brake operating means mounted on said carrier whereby upon the applying of said booster brake by said operating means the latter transmits forces directly to the carrier urging the carrier to rotate about the axis of said shaft, means connecting said carrier to said main brake and effective upon said rotation of said carrier to apply said main brake, and means yieldably opposing said rotation of said carrier to prevent full application of said main brake until said positive driving connection has been established.

7. The combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said main brake comprises a pair of semicircular bands interconnected at one end and wherein said last named means is effective independently of the direction of rotation of said carrier and includes first and second plates connected respectively to the free ends of said bands and having overlapping portions having overlapping slots, a fixed pin extending through said slots and simultaneously engaging said plates at one end of each of said overlapping slots to prevent movement of either of said free ends in a direction away from the other while permitting movement of either of said free ends toward the other, and an arm having a pin and slot connection with each of said plates effective r upon movement in either direction to move one of said free ends toward the other and apply said main brake.

ROBERT N. BENNETT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,184,007 Norelius May 23, 1916 1,436,604 Rackham Nov. 21, 1922 1,474,742 Turnbull Nov. 20, 1923 1,520,432 Norelius Dec. 23, 1924 2,230,339 Shaw Feb. 4, 1941 2,449,893 Gilman Sept. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 869,803 France Feb. 20, 1942 

